Clearing roots
Roots that get into a crack in the lateral can be cut out to get the line flowing again. While the crack stays, roots can grow back, so clearing is a first step rather than the whole repair.
Sewer Line Repair in Minneapolis
Backups that keep coming back, gurgling drains and a sewage smell can mean the sewer lateral from the house is cracked, broken or full of roots. We put you in touch with a plumber who finds the problem and sets out the repair.
In Minneapolis that pipe belongs to the owner all the way to the city main, so this page covers what you own and how to pay for a fix.
Ways to fix a failing sewer lateral
Repairing one section
A single break in the line is a repair of its own. The plumber you hire finds the damaged length and fixes it, so you do not have to replace pipe that is still sound.
Replacing the lateral
Once a lateral has caved in or is cracked along much of its run, the fix is a new one. In Minneapolis that means new pipe from the foundation all the way to the wye under the street, where the owner’s lateral meets the city main.
Adding a cleanout
A house with no cleanout gives no easy way into the lateral for cleaning. A plumber can put one in, and the drain cleaning page explains where the city says to look for yours.
What a Minneapolis owner is responsible for
The property owner owns the sanitary sewer lateral in Minneapolis, from the house all the way to the city’s main sewer, including the wye under the street where the two pipes join. Connecting, cleaning out, repairing and replacing it are the owner’s job, while the city maintains the main and sends wastewater to the Metropolitan Council treatment plant in St. Paul.
Older Minneapolis homes and their sewer pipes
The city’s sewer guide puts the life of a healthy lateral at up to 100 years. Half of Minneapolis’s homes were built in or before 1950. For your own house, the sewer line age checker shows which pipe materials go with its build year.
Frequently asked questions
Can the city help pay for a sewer lateral repair?
Yes, for owners who are not able to pay the cost. Under the private sewer lateral assessment program the city pays the contractor directly, and the owner repays the cost with interest on property taxes over 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. It takes a notarized repair agreement, proof of ownership and at least three bids from the city’s Target Market Program contractor list.
Should I have the sewer line looked at before buying a house?
Yes, the city recommends it. Its sewer guide suggests asking for a sewer inspection when you buy a home, and says a camera check shows whether the line is in good condition.
A slow drain is not always a sewer fault, and the drain cleaning page deals with ordinary clogs. Worn water pipes belong to repiping, while the home page gathers every other service in one list.
Call for a free plumbing estimate
Call us to discuss your current issue and how we can assist you. The call is free and you get a free, personalized estimate with no obligation. We're here to help.
Call (855) 321-3426